Dropping onto the bed Marissa buried her face in her pillow and cried herself to sleep wishing that someone would take this whole problem away.
***
Trace slipped a halter over the head of the four-year-old gelding he had been working with and headed for the hitching post, as his mind drifted back to the pretty young woman he had seen earlier that day.
He had seen plenty of young women and girls like her make their way through his sister’s organization.
Daisy had never truly recovered from the terrible decision their mother had taken so many years ago, but she had turned her tragedy into hope for others. As Daisy’s big brother Trace had never stopped looking out for his little sister, a miracle child and he did all he could to help out when times were hard. His job at the Broken J had come at the perfect time, allowing him to earn extra income, so he could continue to support Daisy and her work.
“God, I’m just a simple man trying to make a living and do what I can to help others,” Trace prayed. “I don’t know what your plans are, but I’m willing to do whatever it is you want me to do. Look after that girl that was here earlier and help her find her way. Amen,” he finished heading to the corral to saddle horses for an evening ride.
“Trace, what are you still doing here?” Chase Haven sauntered toward him with the easy-rolling gait of a bronc rider. “I was sure you’d be headed home by now.”
“Red asked if I could take an extra shift,” Trace said grinning at his boss who looked happy but tired. “He and Nan are heading out to see Josie ride and help Jackson with the horses tonight.”
Chase Haven shook his head of longish blond hair and covered a yawn. “I completely forgot,” he said. “I appreciate you stepping in.”
“I’m happy to do it,” Trace said. “You look like you could use a few more hours sleep though,” he teased.
“Sweet Meg is the most precious baby in the world,” Chase beamed. “She can’t seem to sort out her days and night though,” he finished. “I’ve gone on short sleep before,” the former champion bronc rider said, “I’ll survive.”
“Maybe what you two need is a night out on your own,” Trace mused. “Get a baby sitter and just get away from home.”
Chase ran a hand under his unshaved chin. “That might be nice,” he agreed, catching a couple of horses and leading them to the hitching post. “Even a nice dinner out with no one around could be good for Phil.”
Trace smiled seeing the gears working in his bosses head. Babies were a blessing but a load of work too.
“You workin’ Saturday?” Chase asked his blue eyes still distant.
“No, but I’m not babysitting.”
“I’m not asking you to babysit,” Chase chuckled, “I was wondering if you’d cover for me that evening and I’ll take Phil out to dinner or something.”
“Sure,” Trace said, “that’d work for me. Besides I could use the over-time.”
“Over-time,” Chase chuckled. “We’re all on over-time. Philomena is thinking of adding more cabins and even an RV park if we can get the permits. At this rate, I’ll be hiring ten more wranglers.
Trace nodded understanding. Since Phil had taken over her ancestral ranch more than three years ago, things had changed.
By turning the place into a dude ranch, the onetime marketing guru had managed to draw people from all walks of life into experience what it was like to live on a ranch.
There were hayrides, chuckwagon excursions, trail rides, and just about anything else you could imagine to do on a ranch. There were even quilting parties, campfire-cooking lessons, and many other crafting skill displays.
The talented Philomena had seen potential in the rundown ranch and had quickly converted the large old ranch house and the surrounding homes and cabins into rentals then hired Chase to wrangle horses. She never guessed at the time her inheritance would have brought so much more.
Along with her cousin Kade, now a partner of the Broken J proper and not just the owner of Ballard land, the place had been turned around and given a fresh start just like Phil’s heart.
Together Trace and Chase worked saddling horses in quiet companionship for a while guest meandered the yard simply gazing at the horses in the fields or looking in at the smithy where Cole was busy fashioning some new form of iron art.
“What about the young lady talking to Phil earlier today?” Trace mused her pretty face, and dark hair coming back to haunt him.
“What?” Chance asked glancing toward the house. “When was that?”
“Earlier today,” Trace said, “She came over and met Sherri earlier while I was working. I got the impression that Phil knew her well. She might be a good babysitter.”
“You mean Marissa,” Chase replied tying off a latigo and moving to heft another saddle. “That’s Michelle’s sister, apparently not everyone in Michelle’s family is five-foot-nothing,” he replied checking the cinches one more time before heading for the wheeled mounting block. “You’d think Kade might have married someone a little bigger,” the boss man added. “Seeing how he’s about as big as one can get.”
Together the two cowboys chuckled. They both had a great deal of respect for Kade, who had dedicated his whole life to keeping this place running. It was no wonder he had gone through a matchmaker to get a wife. How he managed to end up with his cousin’s best friend was either a mystery or a miracle.
“Looks like we’re ready to ride,” Chase said patting a big palomino on the neck. “I’ll start herding the guests your way if you’ll call the others.”
Chapter 4
Marissa rose from the warmth
